CPS and CTU have different interpretations of court ruling

March 30, 2011

The Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union have different interpretations of an appellate court decision about layoffs of tenured teachers.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Board of Education must develop a recall policy for laid off teachers. The Chicago Teachers Union alleged tenured teachers were terminated without due process and the Board needs to create a way for them to get back in the classroom.

Jackson Potter is with the union.

"They still have to create these rules. They were still in violation when they terminated people in the summer because they didn't provide them with an opportunity to fill future vacancies," he says.

But CPS attorney Patrick Rocks says the district did what was required.

"The court held that the school code require the Board of Education have such a process. In fact, we say we did have such a process, but it was not formalized," Rocks says.

Rocks says the court ruling does not require the district to reinstate teachers.